Almost Friends

Surprise, surprise.

Turns out these two can play nicely together. 

Maybe it’s that they are spending more time together 

or that they are getting a bit older

 We have fingers!

but it is a pleasant, very welcome change. 

Donovan hasn’t figured out how to mug for the camera yet, but Jaclyn has it down pat.

Love these cuties.

Donovan

Mary posted these over the last few month, so I’m stealing reposting on the run up to April, when little man will be 2. How is that possible already??

Day Drive

Hubby’s 20-year-old “baby” has been under the weather for a few months - the valve seal had to be replaced - so it’s been awhile since he’s had her out for a spin.

But today was sunny, we had no baby-grand responsibilities and heck, we’re retired!, so off we went, 

up the coast for lunch on the beach in Santa Barbara. Gorgeous!

Baby also failed her smog test for the third time, so back to the shop she goes on Monday.  Poor old girl. 

Whale Watch

For her birthday, Leanne asked to go whale watching. 

So Friday, while she was still out of school for Presidents Day Week (!), 

 
and Leia had parental permission to skip school, 

we headed for Island Packers in Ventura Harbor.

As always, there’s no guarantee we’d see whale(s), 

and for the first 2+ hours it looked like we were going to get skunked. 

We saw a seal almost before we cleared the harbor,

 There’s a seal on the buoy, honest

along with lots of brown pelicans hanging out on the jetty.

It didn’t take the captain long to locate the local dolphin hangout.

They came racing toward the boat,

jumping and diving,

swimming alongside

just under the water

and playing in the boat’s wake

so close we could almost touch them. 

There were easily several hundred dolphins in the immediate area. 

It was amazing 

and the girls were beyond thrilled.

Then we cruised up to Carpinteria

and the outskirts of Santa Barbara 

without seeing much of anything but crab pot markers

and a Mylar balloon that the crew snagged on our way by.

Then finally, with only about 30 minutes left on our cruise,

the star appeared

and put on quite a show. 

Judging by his size, the crew thought this humpback whale was probably a teenager.

He stayed close enough to the boat

that we got good photos with our iPhones,

including details like the barnacles on his (her?) back. 

And, like a seasoned performer, he saved the best for last. A series of about 20 loud tail thumps, one after another. It.was.awesome! 

Or as Leanne put it, “best birthday present ever!”

Birthday Glasses

Leanne went to the ophthalmologist on her birthday and yep, as suspected, she needs glasses. She was super excited about the pair she picked out, and super annoyed she had to wait two. whole. weeks. to actually get them. 

So you can imagine her excitement when the doctor’s office called to say her glasses were ready just 3 days later. Now she can wear them to surprise her friends at tomorrow’s official birthday bash. Isn’t she the cutest??

Something Fishy

Pop spotted this - on clearance - while we were shopping for Leanne’s birthday

 The side fins wiggle from inside!!

and had to have it.

He swears he got it for Jackie and Donovan

but doesn’t every guy secretly wish for his very own submarine??

Leanne put it together (with a little help from Pop) and has done most of the decorating so far.

All the grands have played inside except Donovan, who flat refused. 

He decided climbing up and over the top - especially when Jac was inside - was much better. 

Jac thought otherwise (loudly!) when the top started caving in and both she and the sub had to be rescued. Good thing Donovan is easy to distract with snacks and a video.